NFL Bans Off-Duty Officers’ Guns in Stadiums

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NFL Bans Off-Duty Officers’ Guns in Stadiums

CLEVELAND — A new NFL policy will prohibit off-duty Cleveland police officers from taking their guns into FirstEnergy Stadium.

FOX 8 spoke to the president of the Cleveland Police Patrolman’s Association who says he is disappointed in the new regulation.

“A police officer is never happy to give up his service weapon, especially when we have the right to carry it, you know, 24 hours 7 days a week and we’re upheld by our oath too to protect and serve the public on or off duty,” said Jeff Follmer.

Follmer says Cleveland officers have other duties both before and after Browns games where they are required to be armed to fulfill their duty to protect and serve the public.

Police say they received an internal memo on September 11 that the NFL banned all off-duty federal, state and local law enforcement officers from carrying weapons in any NFL stadium or facility.